Abstract
This Cross-Chapter Box outlines governance and associated institutional challenges and emerging solutions relevant to the ocean, coasts and cryosphere in a changing climate. It illustrates these through three cases: (Case 1) multi-level interactions in Ocean and Arctic governance; (Case 2) mountain governance; and (Case 3) coastal risk governance. Governance refers to how political, social, economic and environmental systems and their interactions are governed or ‘steered’ by establishing and modifying institutional and organisational arrangements which regulate social processes, mitigate conflicts and realise mutual gains (North, 1990; Pierre and Peters, 2000; Paavola, 2007). Institutions are formal and informal rules and norms, constructed and held in common by social actors that guide, constrain and shape human interactions (North, 1990; Ostrom, 2005). Formal institutions include constitutions, laws, policies and contracts, while informal institutions include customs, social norms and taboos. Both administrative or state government structures and indigenous or traditional governance structures govern the ocean, coasts and cryosphere.
